SEMLEP is
the economic development partnership, operated jointly by
the private and public sectors in the area, to promote the
South East Midlands as a prime growth location for
business, investors and visitors.
SEMLEP comprises
a board of 15 volunteers - six private and six public sectors
directors, a director from the training provider, further and
higher education worlds, an observer from the voluntary and
community sector and an independent private sector chair.
The
SEMLEP
area
Objective 1
To ensure that the SEMLEP Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone successfully delivers its
initial targets for new jobs and businesses by March 2013.
Targets
1. Deliver 500 net new jobs in SEMLEP Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone
2. Create 50 new businesses that are successfully operating in SEMLEP Northampton
Waterside Enterprise Zone
Objective 2
To attract new overseas business into the South East Midlands through accelerated
delivery of all SEMLEP local authorities inward investment plans
Targets
1.
analyse and evaluate the operation of agreed arrangements that have been put in
place for inward investment across the South East Midlands
2.
identify and recommend for adoption ways in which these arrangements could be
further enhanced for the benefit of partners and the South East Midlands area as a
whole
Objective 3
To facilitate investment in key new physical infrastructure to unlock short and medium term
development across SEMLEP
Targets
1. Create a revolving SEMLEP Local Infrastructure Fund for both short and medium term use
2. Identify and prioritize key infrastructure delivery projects that will accelerate growth in jobs,
businesses and homes across the area and beyond, putting into practice board policy of
cross boundary cooperation between local authorities /LEPs
Objective 4
To facilitate investment in key digital infrastructure to accelerate development across
SEMLEP
Targets
1.
analyse the existing coverage of next generation access (NGA) broadband across
the SE Midlands
2.
identify ways in which coverage can be increased, particularly in rural areas and for
the benefit of businesses and the digitally excluded
Objective 5
To work with the secondary, further, higher, voluntary and community, and private sector
education and training providers across SEMLEP to ensure skills outcomes match business
and social enterprise needs
Targets
1. Working with the FE and HE South East Midlands Universities (SEMU), and private training
providers, local authority officers, the Skills Funding Agency (SFA), relevant Sector Skills
Councils (SSCs) and other appropriate bodies establish a methodology through which
SEMLEP can derive the maximum resources for the range of providers in our area
Objective 6
To support all SEMLEP local authorities to deliver their economic development plans
and related activities designed to stimulate growth, engage with business and enhance
SEMLEPS reputation in its showcase sectors
Targets
1.
Identify and benchmark the number of existing jobs1 in each of the SEMLEP local
authority areas, particularly in showcase sectors, to create an agreed baseline
2.
Increase the number of net new jobs by 3%
SEMLEP Key Achievements
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SEMLEP was established as a company in May 2011 and the Chair and Board
were in place by November 2011.
The Business Plan for 2012-13 ‘Getting down to Business’ focuses on 6 key
objectives with achievement measured against quantifiable delivery targets.
SEMLEP’s income for the year from local authority contributions and
Government grants was around £230k of which around £54k was used for
contracted support. This enabled establishment of the website, running the office
at Cranfield , supporting Board meetings and advisory and sector groups.
The Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone, designated in July 2011, is one of
SEMLEP’s key objectives. Progress has been made throughout last year including:
Funding of £10m secured for the development of Castle Rail Station.
New Carlsberg bottling plant cost£65m and willdeliver 60 new jobs in 2013.
Innovation Centre to be constructed in the St Peter’s area later in 2013 has
secured £7.5m investment and will support around 55 small businesses
Student accommodation for University of Northampton will provide 464 rooms.
SEMLEP Key Achievements
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£18.7m of Growing Places Fund resources was made available to SEMLEP in
February 2012 to allocate to projects that will unlock development potential and
deliver jobs. £7m of this fund has been allocated to support the Enterprise Zone.
Five projects have been supported in principle: Marston Vale Innovation Park,
Electric Corby, Kettering Green Energy Park, Silverstone ‘Access to Jobs’ and the
continuation of the Bedford western bypass. These will deliver a combined total
of around 12,800 jobs and 7,200 homes over the next 10 years.
In addition £1m of Growing Places Fund resources has been allocated to take
forward the East West Rail project.
Four transport projects within the SEMLEP area have received funding to deliver
economic benefits. These are the A43/A5 at Towcester, Junctions 9 and 10 on the
M40 near Bicester and Black Cat roundabout on the A1.
A single point of enquiry has been established for potential investors coming
through UKTI and looking for locations in the SEMLEP area. In 2011/12 SEMLEP
was 6th amongst LEPs in securing 29 projects with an associated 1,090 jobs.
SEMLEP Key Achievements
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Groups to support SEMLEP’s showcase sectors have been established. For High
Performance Technology (encompassing motorsport) the group includes
neighbouring LEPs – Northamptonshire, Bucks Thames Valley, Coventry and
Warwickshire, Black Country, Oxfordshire and Leicester and Leicestershire.
PDIIDG, a private sector led advisory group to the Board, has provided valuable
advice to the Board from a private sector perspective on financial planning for the
Enterprise Zone and the operation of the Growing Places Fund.
The four unitary authorities in SEMLEP will shortly form a Local Transport Board,
which will enable decisions on major transport schemes to be taken locally.
In the second wave of potential ‘City Deals’, Milton Keynes has been invited to
work with SEMLEP to put forward a bid to use innovative ways of delivering jobs
and economic benefits for residents and businesses in Milton Keynes and the rest
of the South East Midlands.
SEMLEP has been chosen by Government as one of 4 ‘growth’ LEPs nationally to
pilot innovative ways of working with business and government to unlock local
barriers to growth.
SEMLEP Contacts
Get in touch:
@southeastmidlan
01234 436100
[email protected]
www.semlep.com
SEMLEP Manufacturing
and Advanced Technology
Dr Walter Greaves
SEMLEP Board
Champion
SEMLEP Manufacturing
and Advanced Technology
Kevin Shepherd
Manufacturing
Adviser
Grant Thornton
SEMLEP supports Growth
Accelerator
Tony Cox
Growth Accelerator
Pera Consulting
Report on Success for
SMEs
Silvia Vitiello
Partner
Kingston Smith
SEMLEP Business
Engagement Group
Maxine Aldred
Chair of Business
Engagement Group
Federation of Small
Businesses